Contentment (Part 2)

Last month I introduced you to Lou Priolo’s booklet Discontentment: Why Am I So Unhappy? and presented to you Priolo’s survey of 25 questions.  Today I would like to give you Priolo’s definitions of contentment and encourage you to think through what they say.

1. Contentment is realizing that God has already provided everything that a person needs to glorify and enjoy him. 

How does this change the way you think about life, work, family, etc.?  God has given you all you need to glorify him and enjoy him.

2. Contentment is realizing that true satisfaction can come only from building one’s life around those things that cannot be taken away or destroyed.

How often do you build your life around the temporal things of this world rather than storing up treasures in heaven?  How often do you settle for cheap trinkets that break rather than for the riches of Jesus Christ?

3. Contentment is delighting in God more than in anything else.

Where do you find your greatest delight?  Is it in anything other than God even “good” things? If so, those things are idols.

4. Contentment is being able to adjust the level of one’s desires to the condition and purpose chosen for him by God. 

Are you happy when you have plenty? Are you happy when you have little? The Apostle Paul learned to be content in either circumstance.  Do you see that God has placed you where you are and made provision for you there? Are your desires in line with where he has placed you and with what he has provided?

5. Contentment is willingly submitting to and delighting in God’s wise and loving disposal in every condition of life.

Do you see God’s all-wise, all-powerful hand at work in all areas of your life or do you complain and murmur when you do get what you want?

6. Contentment is knowing how to use the things of the world without being engrossed in them.

Do the comforts and entertainments of this world bring you more delight than God himself?  Do they point your eyes to God or are they simply used for your pleasure?

7. Contentment is thanking God even in circumstances in which one used to murmur and complain.

Do you grumble and complain or are you thankful? Philippians 2:14 commands you to do all things without grumbling and I Thessalonians 5:18 instructs you to give thanks in everything.

I pray you will consider these definitions and the questions that follow them as you examine your own heart to see if you are content or discontent.

May we all learn to be content with God’s gracious design and provision for our lives.

By His Grace Alone,

Josh